A 26-year-old Española man was recently sentenced in Los Alamos Magistrate Court to 564 days of supervised probation for trying to steal a Dyson vacuum cleaner (value $697) as well as two pairs of women’s UnderArmor shoes (total value $159.98) from the Smith’s grocery store at 751 Trinity Dr..
According to court documents, the suspect, Mario Sanchez, attempted to take the shoes on Jan. 20 and the vacuum just four days later on Jan. 24.
According to a police report, he then tried to take the same vacuum cleaner about a month later on Feb. 9 at the same store.
According to court records, it wasn’t the first time Sanchez tried to steal the same vacuum cleaner, having allegedly taken one in the recent past.
Sanchez was sentenced April 30 for the January incidents, where he was charged with one count of shoplifting ($250 or less) and one count of shoplifting (more than $250 but not more than $500) He was also sentenced to 564 days in county jail, all suspended. Sanchez was also ordered to pay $156 in court costs.
Along with the fines and court costs, Sanchez was also ordered, as conditions of his probation, not to possess a firearm or other weapon, pay probation fees of $25 per month to the court and was prohibited from entering any Smith’s grocery store.

Los Alamos Police Department hosted a ceremony at the Justice Center this morning. Chief Dino Sgambellone spoke to a packed audience about the past and present police officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty at the LAPD’s annual ceremony honoring those police officers. Cpl. Matt Lyon and Sgt. Daniel Roberts unfurl the American Flag during the ceremony.

A collision near the bottom of Conoco Hill on Diamond Drive occurred around 3:15 p.m. Friday. Los Alamos Police Department and Fire Department personnel were on the scene. The Chrysler Sebring seen here collided with a black Chevy sedan. A third car was also involved, according to a witness. No injuries were reported.

Police Beat items are compiled from public information contained in Los Alamos Police Department Records. Charges or citations listed in Police Beat do not imply innocence or guilt. The Los Alamos Police Department uses the term “arrest” to define anyone who has been physically arrested, server a court summons, or issued a citation.

April 30

9 a.m. — A 15-year-old Abiquiu male and a 16-year-old Alcalde male were arrested at 1300 Diamond Drive on a charge of public affray.

It was called a “controlled burn” by the National Park Service, but the burn went out of control.
The result was the Cerro Grande Fire of 2000.
Now, 15 years later, the town has largely bounced back from the effects of the fire, which destroyed 357 housing units once it hit town. More than 400 families lost their homes.
This is a situation no one around Los Alamos County wants to see repeated.
Justin Grider, deputy chief of Los Alamos Fire Department, said he’s keeping an eye on current weather patterns around the area, as are departments in northern New Mexico to track potential fire danger.
A weather prediction report is due out sometime in the near future so LAFD and other agencies can have at least some idea what to expect.
In the immediate future, according to Kerry Jones of the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, rains in New Mexico will keep fire danger down. Jones said there is a big low-pressure system hanging out above eastern Arizona that will draw in moisture.
The National Weather Service is predicting Los Alamos to get about a half-inch of rain by this evening.
However, much of New Mexico has seen drought conditions for the past several years and the threat of wildfire is still very much present.

A Chimayó man was recently charged with harassing and stalking his ex-wife, who lives in Los Alamos, according to court documents.
Davy, J. Sparks, 42, was charged with using a telephone to “terrify, intimidate, threaten, annoy or offend” his victim.
The victim told police that Jones allegedly made threats to her that made her think her life was was in danger.
“(The victim) said Sparks “told her he was going to put a bullet in her head if he sees her,” according to a statement in the court document. “She also stated he told her she better watch herself because he will blow her f---ing head off.” The call was reported to be made from his cell phone.
Sparks’ case is set for a non-jury trial at 1 p.m. June 1.

Police Beat items are compiled from public information contained in Los Alamos Police Department Records. Charges or citations listed in Police Beat do not imply innocence or guilt. The Los Alamos Police Department uses the term “arrest” to define anyone who has been physically arrested, server a court summons, or issued a citation.

April 23

7:44 a.m. — A 54-year-old Abiquiu man said to police he was a victim of a car burglary on Rose Street.

11:19 a.m. — Victor Martinez, 31, of Los Alamos was arrested through a magistrate court bench warrant at the Los Alamos Police Department. The original charge was aggravated driving while intoxicated, (refusal to submit to chemical testing) at Arkansas Avenue on Jan. 25.

4:12 p.m. — Cody Sowers, 27, of Jemez Springs was arrested through a misdemeanor warrant from another jurisdiction at the Los Alamos police department. The original charge was criminal damage to property committed on July 31, 2012.

5:03 p.m. — A 31-year-old Los Alamos woman was involved in an accident with injuries at the intersection of East Road and Trinity Drive, according to police.